Page 18 of Arcane Entanglement

The giant stared at them but did not move. Evander frowned heavily.

Why is he working for mages? And dark mages at that?!

Graham’s anxious gaze shifted from Evander and Ginny, to their attackers.

“We will be alright,” Evander reassured the nervous coachman. “You know as well as I do that Lady Hartley and I are more than capable of looking after ourselves.”

“We’ll catch up in no time, Graham,” Ginny added briskly. She ripped the side of her skirt open from the mid-thigh down and removed the knife strapped to her stockinged leg before flashing an encouraging look at Samuel. “Take care of the old man, will you?”

Samuel jumped down from the box seat and bobbed his head jerkily.

“Alright, my Lady,” Graham said reluctantly. He cast a final, regretful look at Evander. “Stay safe, your Grace.”

The coachman climbed on one of the horses and pulled Samuel up behind him. The clatter of hooves faded in the direction of Piccadilly as they set off at a gallop.

The shrill blast of the whistle came a moment later, a signal to nearby Met officers to offer assistance.

“Kill…them…”

Evander’s head whipped around. The third mage had roused at the base of the tree. He extended a hand towards the Brute, an ugly expression twisting his features. Crimson light flared inside the dark stone crowning the ring on his middle finger.

The same light flashed in the Brute’s pupils, bringing him to life. The giant turned towards his closest target.

Evander’s gut twisted. “Ginny!”

Ginny backed away from the figure closing on her, her face tight. She dodged the Brute’s fist by mere inches and sliced his underarm as she dove to the side.

The giant did not even flinch at the cut.

He turned and lumbered towards Ginny.

A warm weight settled in Evander’s legs, rooting him to the third element he could wield. Magic grounded his body as he called upon the power of the rich loam beneath the cobbles.

The ground trembled, startling the Brute.

A wall of dirt rose between him and Ginny.

The mage’s eyes rounded behind his mask. He climbed unsteadily to his feet and glared at Evander.

“You’re a tri-elemental mage?!”

Evander ignored him and finished surrounding Ginny with a protective barricade of earth. The Brute had stopped moving, confused by the apparition of a wall that hadn’t been there a moment ago.

“Let me out of here!” Ginny’s angry voice was muffled by the thick layer of dirt and rock. “Goddammit, Evander! You can’t take them on your own!” She started pounding on the wall.

The third mage approached Evander just as his two companions stirred.

Evander narrowed his eyes.

“What do you want? And don’t pretend this is a robbery. Dark mages don’t make a habit of looting nobles’ carriages.”

The mage stopped a short distance away. He glanced at his associates where they were rising from the ground before observing Evander shrewdly. “You seem to know a lot about our kind, Ice Mage.” He jerked his chin, signalling to his men to surround Evander. “Now, where is the vial you stole from the alley? We know you have it on you.”

Evander blinked as he met the mage’s piercing stare.

Wait. They’re after the vial?His scalp prickled as understanding dawned.They must be working for the mage who attacked us in the alley!

A chilling cold seeped into his bones. His shoulders knotted.